carful en · NOUN
Etymology
From Middle English carful (“cartful”), equivalent to car + -ful. Shift in meaning follows that of "cart" to modern senses of car. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Koareful (“a cartful”), West Frisian karfol (“a cartful”), German Karrevoll (“a cartful”).
Meanings
-
As much as a car will hold. (Usually with reference to an automobile; sometimes with reference to a railroad car, especially in 19th-century texts.)
Tourists were arriving by the carful.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| carfuls | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| carsful | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
carload · busful · truckful · planeful · vanful · trailerful · wagonful